..:: Talk Radio 702 ::..

Last minute love; what to do if you haven’t done anything – by Anna Trapido

Who was Saint Valentine?

Legend has it that Saint Valentine was a 4th century celibate who was clubbed to death and then also beheaded.
If you haven’t prepared anything for February the 14th, right now you probably know just how he felt.
You don’t want to be beheaded or clubbed to death or left celibate so what can you do if have forgotten to make a romantic restaurant booking?
The good news is that in 1969 the Vatican took Valentine’s Day off its official calendar on the grounds of insufficient evidence of the saint’s historical veracity.
The holiday is now sanctioned only by the God of Hallmark Cards so you are free to do a range of things that don’t fall within the classic notion of what should happen on February 14th.
Option 1: If you must do roses at least have them be edible.
Li Bel in Sunnyside Pretoria are offering the prettiest rose infused breakfasts for culinary Cassanovas. Everything from rose petal martinis to rose petal cream on the scones. Add crisp pancetta drizzeled with fig and rose water jam on lashings of hot buttered toast and you are on to a serious winner. There are a range of set menu breakfast options costing between R90 and R200. LI BEL 012 – 343 8277

Option 2: Switch your hero – he’s not real so pick someone else
Role models for cash strapped cupids: amour for under R100: Queen of Sheba OR Michelle Obama
Amsale Restaurant, Jeppe Street: Let the epic love story of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon inspire a visit to Amsale’s where the best Ethiopian food in South Africa can be bought for ridiculously low prices. An injera flat bread and several berbere spiced stews and a full on coffee ceremony fit for a king will cost you the princely sum of R40.
You cant book and they have no telephone so just pitch up: Amsale’s Restaurant, Johannesburg: no telephone number, Shop 3, Second Floor, Little Addis/Medical Arts Building, 220 Jeppe Street, Johannesburg CBD.
If it’s presidential passion that turns you on go for a Michelle and Barack experience by sharing an R85 bottle of Graham Beck Brut as drunk by the new Commander in Chief and his wife in their inaugural breakfast. I have asked Carrie and she says Norman Goodfellows stock it for R90 per bottle. Add a scoop of Yes Pecan (pecan ice cream) from Biccs in Waterkloof Pretoria and you can enjoy your own Obama style honeymoon period. They also do pizza slices and foccacia sandwiches that are beyond heavenly.BICCS: 012 346 3203

Role models for the rich romantics: Mr and Mrs Ples

Forum Homini hotel and Roots restaurant in the Cradle of Humankind have won every award there is.
The location makes them right at the heart of humanity. Somehow the chef Phillippe Wagenfurer has a way of working with ingredients that is very pure. He sees the core qualities in an ingredient and he brings out what God saw in them when he created them.
I can’t prove there was a Mr Ples but there must have been – she is Mrs after all. So lets go to Roots to celebrate their love.
Roots are doing a 6 course Valentine’s day dinner has the theme of ‘treat your sweet with sweets’. Pink champagne, two desserts and in between artichokes, truffles, veal and all manner of culinary perfection.
For R1 095.00 per couple you get the 6 courses, wine pairings with each course and a bottle of pink French Champagne to enjoy with your Valentine.
They also have an overnight valentine package starting at R5 500.00 per couple. For uber romantic rich people there is a R6 500.00 per couple Presidential / Honeymoon Suite package.
They have 2 tables and 2 suites still available so if you are a forgetful but rich cupid call now. FORUM HOMINI: 011 668 7000

Option 3: If you are really desperate switch the date

All the things I have suggested still have space but if you call and find that others have beaten you to the last spots don’t panic.
Since not even the Pope believes in St Valentine there is no reason to keep to his Saints Day.
If you postpone for a week you can have a lovely valentine’s day without the stress.
It’s also much cheaper - Take for example the Westcliff Hotel in Johannesburg where taking a Valentine’s Package suite will cost R6800 per night for the month of February, except for the actual Valentine’s weekend when the cost rises to R7400.
New Executive Chef Dario de Angeli’s lovers special of duck Magret with black cherry soup and nitro hazelnut is fabulous but it will be equally fabulous on February 21st and 28th.
Westcliff Hotel: 011 646-2400